Steerable trailer and steering apparatus of combination vehicle

Abstract

A combination vehicle is described herein including a tractor and a trailer. A front wheel steering angle detector is included for detecting a front wheel steering angle. A coupling angle detector also is included for detecting a coupling angle of a coupling point between the tractor and trailer. The rear wheel steering angle and the trailer wheel steering angle are detected via a rear wheel steering angle detector and a trailer wheel steering angle detector, respectively. Actuators are included for steering the rear wheels and the trailer wheels separately. A controller is provided for calculating and memorizing a travel direction of a front end of the tractor at a location in response to signals transmitted from the detectors. The controller transmits output signals to the actuators so as to align travel directions of the coupling point and the rear end of the trailer with the memorized direction of the front end of the tractor when the coupling point and the rear end of trailer reach the location. The controller calculates and memorizes the travel direction of the front end of the tractor at plural, discrete locations and transmits output signals to the actuators so as to align the travel direction of the coupling point and the rear end of the trailer with the memorized direction of the front end of the tractor when the coupling point and the rear end of the trailer reach the discrete locations.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.